Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Future of Publishing, Future of Books?

Every now and then, the media carries stories claiming that teenagers today don't read books. It's said that they're dependent on their cell phones and the Internet for communication, which makes for fractured attention span, poor literacy skills, and even behavior issues.

Doubtless these issues occur. They are not, however, the whole truth. The Internet and various social media offer teenagers invaluable opportunities to develop critical thinking and argumentation skills, among others; even detailed technology skills and literacy can be learned by interacting online.

This video, prepared by the UK branch of Dorling Kindersley Books and produced by Khaki Films, takes a stand in a creative way.

(Turn your speakers on if they're not by default - the voice over is worth hearing, too.)

1 comment:

Thad McIlroy said...

While I agree that "detailed technology skills...can be learned by interacting online," I've been unable to find evidence that "The Internet and various social media offer teenagers invaluable opportunities to develop critical thinking and argumentation skills."

I'd be the first to cheer loudly if I believed this to be true, but all of the evidence I've uncovered in researching my website, www.thefutureofpublishing.com, suggests that this is but wishful thinking.